Fan Fiction ❯ Demons in the Dark ❯ Chapter 17

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

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Italics indicate memory or dreams.

Commonly used Sindarin words:

Ai: Oh!
pen-neth: young one
muindor: brother
gwador: sworn brother, not those by blood
Ada: dad
melethron: lover
a'maelamin: lover
ernil-nín: my prince
ion nín: my son

*~*~*

Elladan woke to quiet voices, joy evident the hushed tones.

"He was awake, Ada," Elrohir was saying softly.

"I do not doubt it, pen-neth," Elrond responded. "Let him sleep for now while I check Elladan."

"I'm fine," Elladan mumbled, blinking sleep from his eyes as he felt the bed dip. His father perched on the edge, amusement making his grey eyes sparkle. His hand was clasped by Legolas', their arms extended over the breach between their beds. Elladan eased himself into a sitting position, trying not to jostle the sleeping Prince.

"I will judge that," Elrond said with a smile.

Elladan presented his wounded arm with a pout, causing both his father and brother to laugh, and Legolas to stir. Elladan turned his attention to his lover while his father looked over his injury. Legolas' blue eyes cleared, and immediately sought his.

"Mae govannen, ernil-nín," Elladan whispered.

"Goheno nin," Legolas said softly.

"There is nothing to forgive, Legolas," Elladan said, squeezing the Prince's hand, forgetting for the moment the presence of his twin and father. "If anyone should beg forgiveness, it should be me. What I said was inexcusable."

"We will leave you for now," Elrond interrupted. "There is a broth here for you both. I will return in an hour, and I expect to find it gone." The Lord of Imladris fixed his son with a pointed stare as he rose.

"Yes, Ada," Elladan responded, his eyes never leaving Legolas' face.

Elrond exited the room with Elrohir in tow.

"I would never ask for your forgiveness," Legolas said softly after they had gone. "You did nothing but speak what was in your heart, and I would never ask you to do differently."

"I hurt you," Elladan stated. "I made you want to leave on your own, and surely that makes me just as responsible for your injuries as those who caused them."

"No," Legolas said, then paused to catch his breath.

He was still weak, Elladan could see, and talking was putting strain on a lung that wasn't fully healed. Slowly, the dark haired elf rose and moved toward Legolas' bed. When he saw no sign of rejection, he slid in next to his lover, who immediately went to him, and Elladan folded him into his arms, careful not to put pressure on his lover's chest.

"You are not to blame for my hurts, melethron," Legolas assured Elladan. "I should not have left as I did. I let my emotions dictate my actions, and it was almost my downfall."

"I feared for your life when we knew a rider had been attacked on the road." Elladan spoke into the Prince's ear. "And as we drew close, I felt that you were slipping away."

"I had given up," Legolas admitted. "I was so cold and alone, and I thought no one would come for me until it was too late. I had believed that I had been forsaken, and that I would die alone at the hands of the orcs." The Prince drew a wheezing breath. "I was ready to die."

"Shh," Elladan soothed, pressing his lips to his lover's temple. "Rest, ernil-nín." Elladan reached for one cup of broth and pressed it into Legolas' hands. "Sip that, and listen for a moment."

Legolas nodded and Elladan gathered his thoughts. "The words I said to you were uncalled for, and even though I might have felt them true, they had no place being spoken aloud. I know that you love me, and I love you with all that I am, and to disparage that is unforgivable. But not inexplicable.

"I thought that by starting an argument, that by making us both angry, that somehow this leave-taking would be easier. It's so hard to let you go, Legolas, especially with such short notice. I had hoped that by making us both unhappy, it would be easier to get back to a life without you in my arms every night. But I think I made a mistake."

Elladan hugged Legolas gently. "I never meant for you to be hurt, Greenleaf. I never thought that you would leave without an escort, or without telling anyone that you'd gone. I would endure all the heartache at letting you go to prevent this from ever happening again."

"I never should have left the valley," Legolas murmured. He had slumped down against Elladan's chest, the empty cup clutched in his hands.

Elladan eased the cup out of his grip and placed it on the table. "Sleep now," he whispered, already feeling his lover's breath even out. He reached for his own cup and drank the tepid liquid quickly. After setting the cup aside, he shifted slightly, trying to place the Prince in a position more comfortable for resting, without giving a thought to his own comfort.

There would be plenty of time to talk later. What was important, Elladan thought as he guarded his lover's sleep, was that Legolas was safe and healing, and in Elladan's arms once again.


Translation:
Mae Govannen: well met
Goheno nin: forgive me